This may well be the most common single question I receive concerning our Catholic Faith whether it be at conferences, via email, snail mail, or any other venue. In fact, I've answered it twice today already, so I thought I might just blog about it.

We'll begin by making clear just what we mean by "Purgatory." The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

"If you should acknowledge and love Christ you would give up not only all the treasures of this life, but even the glory of your crown itself to win eternal life."

~ Pope Urban II, at the Council of Benevento (A.D. 1091); explaining the boundaries of Holy Orders as set forth in Holy Scripture and in the authentic writings of the Apostolic Fathers (from the article "Subdeacon")